Medical examiner confirms two July 4 drowning deaths

Autopsies have confirmed that both the 16-year-old and 6-year-old who died in separate Fourth of July incidents in eastern Connecticut drowned.

The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Anthony Bernoudy, 6, of New London, and Brandon Jozile, 16, of Norwich, died from asphyxia by submersion. Both deaths were ruled accidental.

Jozile, a high school student at Norwich Free Academy, was pulled from the water by first responders Thursday afternoon at Hopeville Pond State Park in Griswold. He was with a youth group from the First Haitian Baptist Church of Norwich when friends reported he had gone missing. There is no lifeguard on duty at the park.

Anthony Bernoudy, 6, drowned Thursday at the city-owned Greens Harbor Beach in New London. Last seen about 5:30 p.m. near the water, his disappearance had prompted a massive land and sea search involving boats, divers and a K-9 team.

His body was discovered a short distance from shore by a diver at 11:10 p.m.